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Studio 180 IN CLASS Workshops

Have you recently participated in a Studio 180 IN CLASS workshop? If so, please share your feedback about the experience. Your insights help us hone our model, and give us valuable feedback to share with our supporters (without whom these workshops would not be possible). We welcome your thoughts.

And please do not hesitate to send student reviews, reports, projects and other responses to the attention of Jessica Greenberg, our head of education and outreach, at 19 Madison Ave, Third Floor, Toronto, ON, M5R 2S2 or via e-mail at jessica@studio180theatre.com.

Selected feedback from educators and students:

“The production was incredible, and added so much to my own understanding and interpretation of the play…. Fantastic, challenging material – exactly what we’d want the students to be seeing…. Congratulations on delivering a truly wonderful play to us.”

MITA BHATTACHARYYA (ENGLISH TEACHER, CRESCENT SCHOOL)

“… it felt like you were in the story. The plot twist at the end blew my mind. I enjoyed it because it was nothing like I’d seen before.”

GRADE 12 DRAMA STUDENT (Sir Oliver Mowat CI)

“Wow! What a truly moving art exhibit and a powerful production [My Name is Asher Lev]! A perfect pairing! Congratulations to the Martingrove students who created the personal and reflective artwork exhibit in the lobby space. It was fascinating to listen to the audience responding to the art and really wonderful to hear the students speak about what it meant to them to create their work. Congratulations to Studio 180 on this production. Such a moving story, so beautifully directed and brought to life by your very committed and captivating performers.”

TRACY THOMSON (Central Lead Teacher, The Arts, K-12, TDSB)

“We were sorry to miss the talk back, but I can tell you that the bus back to school was buzzing with talk of My Name is Asher Lev and the art display – they were really engaged with the story of the play and the issues it raised really resonated with them.”

JENNIFER ARCHER (Guidance, Martingrove CI, TDSB)

“My favourite scene [in King Charles III] was the beginning of act two right after the intermission. I thought that the tableau was very impactful… the use of levels and dynamics was amazing to see. The lighting and music really enhanced the play to the next level…”

GRADE 10 DRAMA STUDENT (Jean Augustine Secondary School, Peel)

“Studio 180 IN DEVELOPMENT was a rare opportunity for my senior drama students to get a glimpse into how a play comes to fruition. Not only were they witnessing a very early stage of the play’s development, but the feedback session afterward was asking for their input. How empowering it was for my students to know that their voice matters and their opinion has value. I cannot say enough about what it meant to me to give them that opportunity… Thanks so much Studio 180 for what has been the highlight of our year so far.”

SHELLY MEICHENBAUM (Drama Teacher, Wexford Collegiate School of the Arts)

“The students benifitted from the Studio 180 IN DEVELOPMENT reading followed by question and answer period. They truly felt that they were part of the professional writing process. I enjoyed watching my students being so engaged, and so eager to participate in a mature, focussed, thoughtful way. It was an exceptional experience and perhaps more valuable than going to see a completed production.”

CHERIE WARDLE (Drama Teacher, Senator O’Connor College School)

“NSFW was the first play that I’ve seen and it was a great experience.”

GRADE 12 DRAMA STUDENT (Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School)

“I thought it was amazing, mostly because it was related to my current life right now… The play itself was meaningful. It taught me about how labels are sometimes very damaging.”

“The experience of seeing The Normal Heart and Studio 180’s educational workshops showed me different ways to communicate and engage with my students… [they] pushed me as a teacher to try new things and to be more fearless. I realized that teachers must be willing to take on new challenges if we expect our students to do the same. I believe that the artistic and educational work that Studio 180 provides is an invaluable resource for a wide range of audiences in Toronto.”

“I’ve seen countless plays – big extravagant musicals to one-man-shows – but there yet has been one that has woken me up like The Normal Heart… I think it’s forgotten how we need to fight for what is right still. Even today, when society is generally more accepting, discrimination and heartbreak don’t just go away on their own. They are still current and just as crucial to change. I would adore to be a part of such an incredible, powerful and changing production. This is what theatre is suppose to be: exposing, raw and heartwarming. To teach. And this show succeeded brilliantly.”

GRADE 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT (Etobicoke School of the Arts)

“The entire cast of the play and the experience was AMAZING. As a teacher from Brampton, ON, I feel privileged that students are open to discuss issues such as race in an open and effective way. The content of Clybourne Park helped enhance this conversation.”

LISA TERSIGNI (Teacher, Notre Dame Secondary School)

“Our Class is perhaps the most powerful piece of theatre I have ever seen. I was moved beyond words, as were my astute students. They picked up on so many important aspects of the show, not only concerning the content but the production value as well. The pre-show talk and post-show talk back was excellent: informative, lively, and honest. I will continue to bring students to Studio 180 productions because I believe in the work you are doing: theatre must represent the human condition, however hopeful or deeply flawed, and must provoke and motivate social justice through change.”

“Stuff Happens was brilliantly cast and the performance brought some recent history to full life on an appropriately straightforward set with dialogue that held our young audience at all points. As a history teacher, I could not be happier with it. Today’s classes are full of discussion and questions. What an enrichment to our American history curriculum!”

NICK SZYMANIS (History Teacher, Havergal College)

“Kudos to all involved! This is truly what theatre is all about – its power to move people emotionally and intellectually, to stimulate discussion and open our eyes and, hopefully, its ability to change the world. Thank you, on behalf of all of my students.”

“I’m e-mailing simply to express my gratitude to you for giving me the opportunity to see this play. I enjoyed the play very much – its ups and downs, tears and laughter. Your performance was truly touching and inspiring to me and this experience shall surely stay with me forever. Again, thank you very much for this performance.”

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT (free outreach performance of The Laramie Project)